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Bob Jordan | Statehouse Bureau
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Voters in a statewide nonbinding referendum Tuesday approved allowing sports betting in New Jersey, but there’s a catch: Bets on football and basketball games and other events won’t be legal until a federal ban is lifted or repealed.
The sole statewide question on the ballot was favored by 60 percent of voters, with 40 percent opposed, with 76 percent of precincts reporting. The nonbinding question asked whether New Jersey should pass a law that would be the first step toward permitting sports betting at Atlantic City casinos, the state’s four horse tracks and a former racetrack site in Cherry Hill. The bets could be made in-person or through telephone and online accounts.
State Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, led the effort to make the issue a public question. Lesniak said he was “delighted” by the results. He said he will now introduce a sports betting bill in the upper house on Thursday.
“This is on the fast track. I want to get it to the governor’s desk by the end of the year, so by this time next year Monmouth Park, the casinos and the Meadowlands will be packed with people enjoying a new form of entertainment,” Lesniak said.
The proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow sports betting will be tied to whether New Jersey can successfully knock down a federal ban on wagering in 46 states. Only Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana were grandfathered under the 1992 law.
Despite the casino and racing industries in line to benefit from hosting sports betting, those industries opted not to fund a campaign in support of the vote, according to Lesniak and William J. Pascrell III, campaign director for Vote YES on Sports Wagering and a partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group.
“That’s OK. I, along with my law firm, have been pulling this train alone for a long time,” Lesniak said of the lack of support.
“I’m ecstatic with the result. I’m doing cartwheels. It was all social media, shoe leather and earned media,” Pascrell said. “The casinos in the state of New Jersey really lucked out, because this will help Atlantic City. We were fortunate there was little in formal opposition.
Under the proposal, bets would not be allowed on team sports but not on any college sports or athletic events that take place in New Jersey or in which a New Jersey college team is playing.
Gov. Chris Christie hadn’t taken a strong stand on the issue until last week when he proclaimed to be all-in on legalizing sports betting.
“I think it's important for New Jersey to have this option. I don't think it's fair that it's restricted to just a few states. Gaming is surrounding us everywhere,” he said.
Christie passed on a chance in 2010 to join a complaint filed by two state lawmakers in federal court saying the ban affecting New Jersey is unconstitutional. But Christie said approval of sports betting by voters would prompt his support of a refiled complaint.
“My problem all along was, without this type of referendum, the lawsuit was bound for failure,” the Republican governor said.
Contributing: Associated PressBob Jordan 609-984-4343